EARLY YEARS 1960's to 1980's
During the 1960s and 1970s, the current 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) was activated at various times as the 22d Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) to participate in exercises and operations in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, and the North Atlantic. On Dec. 15, 1982, it was redesignated the 22d MEU. The 22d MEU and its two sister units, the 24th and 26th MEUs, operate on a rotational basis as Landing Force, U.S. Sixth Fleet, usually in the Mediterranean Sea.

While deployed as Landing Force Sixth Fleet (LF6F) 1-83 from February to May 1983, 22d MEU was ordered ashore to serve as the U.S. contingent to the Multinational Force, Lebanon. It conducted several key operations and returned to Camp Lejeune June 26, after completing a short training exercise in Key West, Fla. On Oct. 18, 1983, the MEU left for Beirut as LF6F 1-84. Several days after embarkation, it was diverted for the tropical island of Grenada. Following several days of fighting, the victorious Marines re-embarked and again set sail for Lebanon.

In Feb. 1984, the MEU redeployed on Naval shipping off the Lebanese coast, except for a small detachment left behind to provide security for the embassy. The MEU was relieved as LF6F on April 9. The next time out, the MEU received many accolades for its outstanding performance during training exercises in Spain, Morocco, Italy, Turkey and Tunisia. It was relieved of its duties on Feb. 7, 1985.

On July 3, the MEU reassumed the LF6F commitment and remained deployed as LF6F 2-85 until December 1985.

It returned to sea as LF6F 1-87 from Oct. 19, 1987, until Feb. 22, 1988. The MEU also served as the landing force for Phase II of Exercise Solid Shield 87 in Honduras.

1990's
In 1990, the MEU conducted a noncombatant evacuation operation to rescue U.S. and other friendly citizens from war-torn Liberia. It was also the first MEU to conduct a combined exercise in Kuwait during 1991.

During its deployment as LF6F 1-93 from Oct. 21, 1992, to April 15, 1993, and LF6F 3-93 from Aug. 12, 1993 to Feb. 4, 1994, the MEU provided a U.S. presence off the coast of the former Yugoslavia as part of Operation Provide Promise/Deny Flight. LF6F 3-93 also participated in exercises Continue Hope/UNOSOM II.

During its next deployment as LF6F 1-96, Jan. 29-June 24, the Marines of the 22d MEU (SOC) participated in several contingency operations. Operations Assured Response and Quick Response placed the MEU Marines on the African continent where they safely evacuated more than 750 citizens from unstable political situations.

As LF6F 2-97, the 22d MEU (SOC) again deployed to a host of real-world operations. During Operation Noble Obelisk, the MEU evacuated more than 2,500 individuals from Sierra Leone in a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation. During Operation Guardian Retrieval in Congo, the MEU stood ready to evacuate persons from the country of Zaire. The third operation the MEU conducted during LF6F 2-97 was Operation Silver Wake in Albania. Along with successfully completing these exercises, the MEU spent almost the entire deployment divided meeting both operational and exercise commitments in Africa, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

The 22d MEUs (SOC) next deployment was as LF6F 3-98, July 2-Dec. 7. During this period the MEU participated in exercises should as Matador in Sicily, Cooperative Assembly in Albania, Atlas Hinge in Tunisia, Sea Breeze in Ukraine, Dynamic Mix in Sardinia, and Rescue Eagle in Romania. The MEU was also put on alert to evacuate American citizens from the Republic of Congo on the West Coast of Africa, however, the situation necessitated an evacuation by other means and the Marines returned to their exercise schedule. The MEU also conducted an embassy reinforcement in Albania, August through November, due to known terrorist threats.